Latch-clasp for driving-reins



{No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. H. FENTON.

LATCH CLASP FOR DRIVING REIN3.

No. 300,354. Patented June 1'7, 1884.

Fig.6.

IQ? vex-Aer.-

n, PETERS. Pinto-litho ra h". Wahingtm 0.6,

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. H. FENTON. LATGH CLASP FOR DRIVING REINS.

No. 300,354. Patented June 17, 1884.

" w 0. L g

I L, L. W

N. PETERS. Pnawuuw' u mr, wamwm n. c.

llnrrnn Stains JOHN H. FENTON,

Parent OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 300,854, dated June 1'7, 188%.

Application filed October 30, 1882. (X model.)

To (LZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN H. FENTON, re siding at Chicago, in the county of Cool: and State of Illinois, and a citizen of the United States, have invented new and useful Improvements in Latch-Clasps, of which the fol lowing is a full description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows the old style of hand=loop for a rein with the form of clasp heretofore used; Fig. 2, a plan View of the clasp shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a perspective showing a strap in connection with my improved latchclasp, the figures showing the manner of inserting the strap to drop the latch on the clasp into position; Fig. l, a perspective showing the parts of Fig. 3 when the fastening is completed, forming a hand-loop in the strap or rein; Fig. 5, a top or plan view of my improved latch-clasp with the latch closed; Fig. (i, a section on line an: of Fig. 5; Fig. 7, atop or plan view of my improved latch-clasp, with the latchopen, Fig. 8, an edge view of the frame; Fig. 9, a plan View showing a strap in connection with my improved latchclasp and an ordinary buckle; Fig. 10, a plan View of my improved latch clasp combined with a tongue-buckle, the latch of the clasp being closed; Fig. 11, a section on line y y of Fig. Fig. 12, a plan view showing my im-' proved latch-clasp combined with a tongue buckle, the latch on the clasp being open.

The object of this invention is to readily and quickly i'orm a hand-loop of a leather or other st ap in a strong and reliable manner, without the use of scams or rivets, and it is primarily designed for use with reins, to form the hand-loop therefor. Such hand-loops are now usually formed of a separate piece connected to a buckle, which in turn is buckled onto the line, as may be desired for use, neccs sitating the formation of a series of holes for the tongue of the buckle, and to this extent weakening the rein; but with the present invention the hand-loop can be formed at any point dcsired, and can be changed from one point to another very quickl y, and without any trouble or inconvenience, and its nature consists in doubling the rein or other strap on itself to form a loop, and passing such doubled portion through clasp by doubling it to form a loop to admit of the passage of a swinging tongue or cross-bar on the clasp, over which bar, when down, the doubled strap or rein is drawn, vforming a loop in the strap or rein, as hereinafter more specific-all y pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, A represents what is known as or termed a hand-loop f or attachment to reins, for the purpose of giving a firmer hold on the line.

y B is a form of clasp in common use for at taching the hand-loop A to the line. This clasp is formed of side bars, 2'), end bars, I), and a cross-bar, 0, extending from side bar to side bar, as shown in Fig. 2, the entire parts Z) 7) I)" being usually cast or formed from a single piece, and in any event the several parts are rigidly or firmly connected together! The hand-loop Ais attached. to the olaspBbypassing a strip, A", over the center bar, Z and stitching its ends to the ends of the hand-loop strap, as shown in Fig. 1, and the hand-loop is attached to the line bypassing the end of the line up through the open space on the one side ofthc' clasp, overthe center, and down through the open space on the other side of the clasp, and slipping the end into the retaining-strap a on the hand-loop, so that bypulling on the hand-loop the rein is impinged against the end bars of the clasp. It will be rcadilyseen that with this form of clasp B, which is a fair rep resentation oi. all the present styles of clasps, it will be impossible to attach the hand-loop, except by passing the end. of the rein through the clasp, as described; audit will also be seen that the clasps of this kind can only be used where it is possible to pass the end of the strap, or other article through the clasp in the manner described. Ihis clasp and the manner of using it are shown and described herein for the purpose of more clearly illustrating and pointing out the function and operation of my present invention.

0 is a strap,which, in the present instance, may be considered a rein, for the purpose of showing how a handloop can be formed, in connection with a latch-clasp, oi the rein its elf.

D represents a latch-clasp consisting of a frame and a pivoted latch, the frame being formed of side bars, (1, and end bars, (1, and the latch d being, as shown, pivotally attached at one end to one of the side bars, and having its other end, as shown, formed to partly receive the other side bar, when this latch is down, with the center orbody of the latch depressed, or on a lower plane, as shown in Fig. 6. As shown, each side bar, d, where the latch is located is of a less diameter, to form shoulders, between which the latch is held and prevented from slipping on the side bars.

Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8 show one form of constructing and arranging the frame and the pivoted latch in carrying out my invention; but it is evident that the shape of the frame and the manner of pivoting the latch thereon, could be varied somewhat from that shown without changing the essential feature of my inventionviz., the formation of a hand-loop in the body of the rein itself by using a frame through which the rein doubled on itself can be passed, to allow the pivoted latch to be swung into place to rest across the frame, and the doubled rein to be drawn over the latch to secure the doubled portion in the form of a loop in a quick and ready manner, without any trouble and inconvenience.

In use the latch is thrown open, as shown in Fig. 7, and the rein O is doubled once to form the loop 0, and again doubled and passed up through the frame D, as shown in Fig. 3, so as to form a secondary loop of sufficient height for the latch d to be turned down and have its other end rest on its side bar, as shown in Figs? 5 and 6. The strap G is then pulled, bringing the portion thereof which forms the loop 0 in contact with the latch D, as shown in Fig. 4, forming a loop, 0, without any cutting of the strap or the use of an additional piece; and it will be seen that the hand-loop can-be formed at any point on the line, and be readily removed whenever desired by bending the strap or rein, and forcing it through the frame, as shown in Fig. 3, permitting the latch to be thrown open and the clasp to be pulled off.

It will be understood that a hand-loop can be formed in the manner just described to an endless strap, or to a strap or other article the ends of which are larger than the body, or have an object thereon which would not pass through an ordinary buckle. The-latch-clasp is held firmly, and'also secures the strap or other article to which it is attached by the compression or friction produced by contact of the upper surface of the latch, and the under surface of both end bars, in the form of construction and application described, and the pressure thus produced will hold the latch firmly down and prevent any slipping of the latch-clasp, or the article to which it is applied.

In Figs. 9, 10, 11, and 12 is shown a latchclasp combined with an ordinary buckle. The latch-clasp in this form of construction is similar to that shown and described, consisting of a pivoted latch, d, side bars, d, end

bars d the side bars havin extensions e to form the side bars of the buckle E, with an end bar, 6, the buckle being completed by a tongue, 6, one end of which encircles the inner end bar of the clasp, which forms the pivot for the tongue, to operate in the usual manner.

The combined clasp and buckle shown in Figs. 9, 10, 11, and 12 will be found useful where it is desirable to form a loop in a rein or strap, and to attach a second strap for some other purpose, the loop being formed and held in the clasp portion in the manner already de scribed, and the other strap being buckled or secured by passing the tongue of the buckled portion through a hole in the strap.

Heretofore it has been customary to secure hand-loops upon reins and other straps by riveting, or by the use of a -tongue-buckle, thus weakening the straps or other articles where it was desirable to use such hand-loops, and the hand-1oops are fixed, or, in one sense, stationary, even when buckles are used, and they cannot be readily moved or be changed to occupy a different position after being once attached; but with my improvement no sewing or rivetingis required, and the hand-loop may be changed to any part of the strap or rein, and formed at any point desirable.

The frame of the latch-clasp may be round, oval, angular, or any form desired, being pivoted to one of the side bars, so as to form a swinging cross-bar. A cross-bar could be used independent of the frame, but adapted to rest on the side bars in use.

Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. The combination, with a rein or strap doubled on itself to form a loop, of the frame provided with the pivoted latch depressed between its ends and applied so as to receive within the depressed portion the double portion of the rein to form a loop beyond the end of the frame, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the frame provided with the pivoted depressed cross-latch,

of the rein or strap doubled upon itself, and,

having the doubled portion lying upon the latch and extending beyond the end of the frame, so as to form'a loop, substantially as described.

V JOHN H. FENTON. Vitnesses:

O. W. BOND, ALBERT H. ADAMS. 

